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FIRST SIGHT: From The Crew Behind Kettner Exchange Comes Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt | Debuting In Pacific Beach November 7

November 1, 2016

Tiki has made it's triumphant return to the culinary mainstream in 2016 and poke is more popular than ever! Matt Spencer's SDCM restaurant group, which is behind San Diego concepts Kettner Exchange, Devil's Dozen Donuts, Firehouse, Vin De Syrah and Analog Bar, knows how to tap into the epicurean zeitgeist. He took over the former Good Time Charlie's space at 910 Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach earlier this year and has transformed it into a tiki-inspired, dual-concept poke shop and Polynesian speakeasy - Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt - set to softly unveil over the coming weekend with its official opening planned for Monday, November 7.

To get to the finished product, SDCM had to do a complete top-to-bottom overhaul of the small strip mall space on the corner of Grand & Bayard in San Diego's liveliest beachside neighborhood. Designed by Davis Krumins of Davis Ink, the dual concept starts with an unsuspecting, counter-service poke shop, Good Time Poke, but once you pass through a secret door near the eatery's kitchen, you'll enter a fog filled, volcano rock, cave-like hallway and through an optical illusion hologram to make your way into The Grass Skirt, a speakeasy-style tiki oasis. The Grass Skirt's design is all about the details, featuring bamboo accents on the walls, Bosko-carved tiki pole beams, a large tiki head private booth, 2 outdoor patio cabana areas with plants and hanging chairs, a moss wall with a custom neon grass skirt dancer sign, retro orange 60's tile, an indoor fire feature sit-up bar, a lightup punchbowl table, an outdoor tiki head fireplace below a modern-tiki grafitti mural, and so much more. There are even pink flamingo stalls in the women's bathroom (pineapples in men's) and interactive special effects that take place when patrons order certain drinks. The design certainly invokes that Polynesian, tiki vibe that SDCM was going for.

Good Time Poke's name pays homage to the former longtime tenant of the space, Good Time Charlie's. The Asian and Polynesian inspired menu was created by SDCM Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski, with a cocktail menu of tiki drinks designed by Beverage Director Steven Tuttle. The casual eatery offers a concise menu of poke bowls, including signature creations, a build-your-own list and a veggie option, as well as pork belly steamed buns. The Grass Skirt menu includes more substantial offerings like kimchi fried rice, a shrimp toast sandwich, hanger steak lettuce wraps, Skuna Bay salmon cones and more. Behind the bar, stylish tiki cocktails and punchbowls using fresh juices will be created, and craft beer and fine wine will be flowing like lava.

Good Times Poke & The Grass Skirt have tentative plans to soft open during the weekend of November 4-6 with its official opening date slated for Monday, November 7. Good Time Poke is open from 11am-4pm, and at 4pm, the kitchen changes over and focuses on the extended Asian-influenced, shared plates menu for The Grass Skirt. For more information, call 858.999.0257, visit goodtimepoke.com & thegrassskirt.com, and check out the menus below.

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